In March/April 2008 I visited the mountain gorillas in Uganda (Bwindi Impenetrable National Park) and Rwanda (Volcanoes National Park). In Kibale Forest (Uganda) we followed a group of chimpanzees for 11 hours. We visited Ngamba Island for 2 days and I fell in love with the chimpanzees.

I bought Sheila Siddle's book "in a family tree" and decided to go to Chimfunshi as a volunteer in November 2008. I had a great time helping the keeperes taking care of the chimps. I went back there in March 2010 and again I had a fantastic month.

In November 2009 I went to Cameroon, to volunteer at Limbe Wildlife Centre. This time not only chimps, but also gorillas, drills, mandrills, baboons and a lot of small monkeys. The first time in my life I was so close to a gorilla and it was great to touch a gorilla hand, bottle feeding Adjibolo, a young gorilla and giving yoghurt to all the other gorillas. Of course I also spent a lot of time with the chimps, making enrichment and playing with the baby chimps.

I went back to Limbe in November 2010 and again I enjoyed being there. Everybody who likes to work with apes and monkeys can apply to volunteer. You can find all the information at www.limbewildlife.org.

I will go back there in March 2011!

Annelies Begas